Brisbane Grammar Swimming Club’s Alexander Grant long journey to world juniors

For Alexander Grant, his swimming journey has taken him around the world and back again, making selection in Australian team bound for the World Junior Swimming Championship in Budapest even sweeter success.

For Alexander Grant, his swimming journey has taken him around the world and back again, making selection in Australian team bound for the World Junior Swimming Championship in Budapest even sweeter success.

Grant, who trains under David Lush at the Brisbane Grammar Swimming Club, was born in Australia but spent his early life in Ireland before shifting aged six to Canada, where he stayed until 2014.

Swimming and Canada do not mix as naturally as say skiing or playing ice hockey, and it was difficult for Grant to progress his swimming to any great degree.

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“Swimming pools were pretty scarce over there but I made do with what I had,’’ Grant said.

“Fifty metre pools were a three-hour drive away and it was hard to find a proper pool to compete at.’’

When the family was preparing for a return to Brisbane, Grant’s mother started contacting schools and in that sweep coach Lush bobbed up with an invitation for her son to join his swimming squad.

“He was so welcoming,’’ the Brisbane Grammar School past student said.

“Once I got here he said to me: ‘You can do the 400m if you want but I am just letting you know it is going to be really hard training and you have to be fully committed to it.’.

“That is something, when I am in the water and I am hurting really hard, that I think back to.

“I think of that conversation I had with him, that I signed up for this and I have to make sure I am committed to it,’’ said Grant, who has shaved an amazing 10 seconds off his 400m PB across the last 12 months.

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Which makes winning a place on his first national team all the more satisfying, particularly given his respect for his high class opponents who missed after the recent national titles.

“It does give you encouragement and shows you the work does eventually pay off,’’ the Gordon Park resident said.